Japanese comedian Pikotaro press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on 28 October 2016. His nonsense song went viral after pop singer Justin Bieber punted it on Twitter. Photo: KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP

‘Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen’ sets Guinness record

A Japanese comedian’s nonsense tune that became an internet sensation after Justin Bieber recommended it has entered the Guinness World Records as the shortest song to break into the Billboard Hot 100.

The video for the 45-second-long “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” has been viewed more than 67 million times since hitting YouTube in August, going viral after pop giant Bieber tweeted it as his “favourite video on the internet”.

“I’m surprised by this sudden popularity,” said the 53-year-old comedian, who goes by Pikotaro, just before receiving the award on Friday at a packed press conference.

“Without Justin’s impact, I think only four people would have showed up in this room,” he joked.

Last week, the song entered the US chart at number 77, marking the first time in 26 years that a Japanese singer made the Billboard Hot 100.

But despite the global sensation, Pikotaro told reporters that his life had not changed at all since the song became “a worldwide phenomenon” last month.

Pikotaro, who revealed he spent only 100,000 yen (R13,195.97) to make the video, hopes to do a world tour although he doubts the global craze will continue.